Power

Power. The word itself enlists the body to feel a sudden surge of strength and capability. The idea of power causes some men to see that their nationality of people is superior than others and that the inferior race has no cause for living. Hitler believed that the Germans were so far advanced from the lowly Jews, that he sought to annihilate the Jews and almost succeeded. Millions of Jews were killed because of Hitler's thirst for power. The few that survived, have horrendous memories of concentration camps and watching their entire families be ripped apart. And for what? All because one man sought the power to conquer what he believed to be an inferior race.

I was born in 1975, so I have no first hand knowledge of the events that took place during Hitler's reign of terror. What I have learned, I have learned in school and listening to old stories my grandfather would tell. Power itself is not good or evil and to thirst for power doesn't throw you up on the same level as Adolf Hitler. Like most things, what makes a thing good or evil is how the person uses it.

In my opinion, I believe that Billy Graham has power. He has the power to reach the world in a way that a lot of Christians only dream about. He has the power to present Christ in such a way that anyone can understand. He has the God-given power to force people to see their sin and see their need for a Savior.

In trying to understand who God is, I think we must first understand and believe that He is powerful. God is in control. He is in control of everything good and everything bad. Nothing happens in this world without His consent. Satan brings evil into the world only after God gives him permission. Satan can do nothing without God's consent.

Why does God allow Satan to bring evil into the world at all? If God is powerful, why doesn't He crush Satan now and let the world live in peace and harmony? Those are very good questions. Questions that I have asked myself through my Christian walk. I do not doubt that God has the power to "take out Satan" or to unite the world under His name. God has proven His power time and time again throughout history. Why He doesn't do it -- I don't know.

I do know that God gave people the will to choose. God wants us to serve Him and worship Him, but only by choice. I read a question in an online forum yesterday that asked "If God gave us the right to choose, why does He punish us after we make our choice?" It's a valid question. But if we take the time and think about it, we will realize that with every choice, there is a consequence. Our parents taught us that. If given the freedom to make a choice in a certain situation, then we must also be given the freedom to accept the consequences of that choice.

God is no exception. He allows us the freedom to make our own choices, but He cannot deny us the right to accept those consequences. The biggest choice God gives us the choise to accept Him or deny Him. The consequence that WE choose for OURSELVES is Heaven or hell. Plain and simple. There is no gray here. You're either right or you get left.